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The Minnesota Youth Intervention Programs Association is currently working to create and introduce a new interactive website. This will be a very resource intensive undertaking for YIPA and our ability to spend the time necessary to properly support the KidsChange blog will be limited. So, for the time being, we have decided to temporarily discontinue posting to our blog and instead are going to focus our attention on connecting with followers on Facebook.


If you value the important work that YIPA does, and would like to stay abreast of events, training opportunities and issues that impact youth in Minnesota, then we encourage you to connect with us on Facebook. And of course, stay tuned for the launch of our new website!

March Member of the Month: Amicus

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (link: http://www.aclu.org/womens-rights/girls-prison), in 2008 there were more than 14,000 girls incarcerated in the United States, a number that has been rapidly increasing in recent decades. Most of those girls are arrested for minor, nonviolent offenses and probation violations. Despite good intentions of helping the girls, many of them are re-traumatized because the majority of them have been prior victims of abuse. Consequences such as solitary confinement, routine strip searches, and other forms of interventions sometimes produce unintended outcomes. Instead of helping girls cope with the trauma, occasionally youth detention centers further traumatize girls.

In spring 2010 YIPA member, Amicus published the Amicus Girls Study. It examined the thoughts, feelings and experiences of those involved with girls in the juvenile justice system, and of the girls themselves. According to their review of the literature, a history of sexual or physical abuse is common among girls in the juvenile justice system, and often such victimization contributes to female juvenile delinquent behavior. Girls in the juvenile justice system are also more likely than boys to experience neglect and abuse within their families. Amelia Goodyear, Youth and Mental Health Director at Amicus echoed that message as we talked in depth about her work with teen girls in the Radius Program.

Amelia has conducted weekly groups in both Ramsey and Dakota Counties and provided individual therapy for girls in the Ramsey County detention and community programs. In working with these groups, she has found that a significant number of them have experienced trauma in their past, which is something that they address in group sessions. The goal of the group is for girls come to terms with trauma and mental health issues, develop healthier relationships, link to positive assets, and that they are empowered with self-regulation skills and positive relationships. Ideally, girls involved in this program will develop the skills and coping mechanisms needed to help them avoid further contact with the juvenile justice system.

While the Radius program has proven beneficial in helping many of these girls, policy makers are encouraged to allocate more resources for prevention and early intervention programs. Helping these girls at the first sign of a problem is our best bet for keeping them out of the more costly juvenile justice system. Early interventions programs have proven time and time again that they work. It’s time to act fiscally prudent and make wise investments in prevention and early intervention. It works and it’s the right thing to do!

Update on the Youth Intervention Program bill (HF370)

Late last Friday, YIPA’s Executive Director, J. Scott Beaty learned that a hearing on the Youth Intervention Program bill (HF370) had been scheduled before the House Public Safety & Crime Prevention Policy & Finance Committee. With less than a week to prepare, YIPA staff hurried to pull together materials and supporters to ensure legislators understand the importance of early intervention. They knew that a lot was at stake this Legislative session because the YIP funding must be passed through this committee. HF370 asks to maintain the current funding level of $1.6 million per year, which funds 57 early intervention programs throughout the State of Minnesota. Word spread quickly, and on Wednesday morning, the room was packed with YIPA members, board members, colleagues, constituents, youth and program supporters who came together to rally for the cause.

Carrying the bill (HF370), Republican Steve Smith emphasized the importance of investing in programs now that have been proven to save the state money in the long run. He made several references to the Social Return on Investments (SROI) and answered questions from his cohorts with finesse, confidence and a great deal of knowledge. He is a true champion for kids.

YIPA presented a strong group of testifiers that included those who were impacted both personally and professionally by a Youth Intervention Program. J. Scott Beaty acquainted Legislators with the bulk of information on the Youth Intervention Program, and his urgent message was echoed by James C. Backstrom, Dakota County Attorney; Craig Woolery, Director of Public Safety from the Cottage Grove Police Department; Paul Ramsour, Supervisor of the Life Transitions Program at YouthLink; and Giovanni Alvarado, a 17 year old student at St. James Public School who credited his personal change from getting in trouble to now wanting to become a lawyer on his participation in the St. James Youth Intervention Program. Everyone who shared their story was well received and members of the Committee were fully engaged and interested in the importance of early youth intervention.

Because of dedicated and supportive members, colleagues, constituents and program supporters, YIPA is now one step closer to achieving our mission: To ensure that early intervention youth programs are embraced and well equipped to provide high quality and cost effective early intervention youth services.

Thank you to everyone who came out to show your support!

DISORDERED {thy name is teenager} after YIPA's Quarterly Meeting

MN Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA) and The Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota are excited to present a dynamic afternoon training on Friday March 11, 2011. We will be brining in actors from the Blank Slate Theatre to perform the play DISORDERED {thy name is teenager}! This LIVE performance is designed to be a training opportunity for mentoring professionals, youth workers, mentors, and anyone else that works with and cares about young people. The performance is a mixture of spoken word with acting out monologues of various different characters that are coping with some of the common struggles faced by American teens. The cast will talk about disorders such as depression, OCD, Anxiety, eating disorders, ODD and ADHD, as they pertain to their daily lives. This production aims to bring a perspective on teenagers that the media often ignores: that teens, like adults, suffer with mental disorders. A Q&A session with the youth actors, writers and director, and then small group discussions on topics presented in the play will follow up the performance.

“The show orients the audience to the world of teens, the challenges they encounter, and the mental health issues/concerns and stigma some may face as a teen. The young artists provide moving, touching performances. It was an amazing show! Thoughtful and interesting!"

~ Fringe Festival audience member

The actors of DISORDERED have made appearances at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the Minnesota Mentoring Conference, Fringe Festival, the Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Conference, the Lowry Lab Theater and more! Register to be a part of this exciting and informative event!

*YIPA members who are interested in attending this event should note that it immediately follows our March 11 Quarterly Meeting that will be held at Children's Home Society & Family Services in St. Paul. The Quarterly Meeting will run from approximately 10:00am-12:00pm with lunch served shortly thereafter. We will then encourage interested attendees to move to Jewish Community Center of the Greater Saint Paul Area which is about a 15 minute drive from the location of the morning training. Please contact Rachel Ayoub at promisefellow@mnyipa.org for additional information.

An Urgent Message from Senator John Marty

In yesterday’s Mille Lacs Messenger, Senator John Marty, a member of the Minnesota Senate, discussed in great detail the importance of supporting early intervention programs for youth. He also made reference to the Social Return on Investments (SROI) data collected and distributed in 2007. Below is the article in its entirety:

It is a reality that the enormous state budget deficit will require significant budget cuts and tax increases. Yes, I know that Republican legislators claim they will not accept any new taxes, but their first budget proposal contained significant tax increases on renters and is projected to cause large property tax increases on homeowners and businesses.

Governor Dayton campaigned for office saying that he is going to increase income taxes. So, although there will be a struggle over which taxes to raise, taxes will go up. 



Likewise, for budget cuts. Few areas of the budget will remain untouched. Despite many cuts in recent years, some parts of the budget are projected to continue growing rapidly, making them targets for even deeper cuts. 



This is where we need to change our perspective. First we need to recognize that deep cuts in programs and services are not simply a matter of accounting; these programs serve real people with real needs. For a family fighting to avoid homelessness or for people with disabilities who need health care services to live independently, cuts are not painless. Cuts bleed.



In addition to causing real human suffering, some cuts are fiscally irresponsible and cost taxpayers more in the long run. Cuts that lead to higher crime rates, reduce the quality of education for students, or leave sick people without healthcare, hurt Minnesota's future. 



One example is Youth Intervention Programs. Minnesota provides funding to 57 local organizations around the state that work with at-risk young people, intervening because of truancy, drug use, homelessness, or when they are in court for shoplifting or other crimes. Youth Intervention Programs (YIP) work with about 25,000 young people each year - counseling, educating, mentoring, and coaching them - enabling them to remain with their families, instead of in costly foster care, correctional institutions or residential treatment. These YIP grantees are community-based programs, where the participants live at home but meet with a mentor or counselor in the program. A survey of participants showed big progress for most of the youth - over half had improvement in school attendance and grades, and over 80% had no further interactions with the law since entering the program. 



In a benefit-cost analysis conducted by Wilder Research, economist Paul Anton calculated, using conservative assumptions, that the typical YIP program provides almost $5 in benefits for every dollar spent, with $2.33 of those savings going to taxpayers through reduced crime and court costs, and lower human services and school costs. 



That's not an 8 or 10% return on investment but a 233% return! That dwarfs the level of savings that legislators and governors hope to obtain when we work to make state government more efficient.



With that type of savings, it would be wise for the state to make sure that these youth intervention services are available to all at-risk youth. Yet only a fraction of those youth have access to the programs, and the state appropriation for YIP was reduced from $2.4 million in the previous budget cycle to $1.6 million now.



Over the past decade, under the push for lower taxes, there are many programs and services like YIP that have been inadequately funded, or have actually been cut. Our current budget crisis is largely the result of Minnesota's failure to invest in prevention. We are paying the price for past short-sightedness. 



Economists and demographers tell us that the state will have even greater budget difficulties in the future. We have an aging population, and state revenues are not projected to keep up with the growth in spending needed to address those growing public needs. Some of the budget cuts that are likely this year may balance the state books now, but only make the future budget problems worse.



We will have to make many budget cuts, and none of them will be easy. But when doing so, we cannot afford to cut Youth Intervention Programs or numerous other services - such as early childhood education, preventive healthcare, chemical dependency treatment, and teen pregnancy prevention, which have a strong return-on-investment.



The reality is that it will cost taxpayers less overall if we spend more on these services now. Let's not keep repeating the mistakes of the past.

January Member of the Month: Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health & Well-Being

Does the name Central Center for Family Resources ring a bell? How about Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health & Well-Being? Whether you call them by their former name or their current name, both are synonymous with exceptional and affordable services for families, children, youth, and adults in our community. I (Rachel) recently spent part of my afternoon with Patty Halvorson, Lee Carlson’s Marketing and Development Manager and a recipient of YIPA's 2010 Friends of Youth Leadership Award for Innovative Funding. The third Friday of each month, Lee Carlson Center hosts a “Lunch & Learn Tour,” where participants can meet staff, volunteers, board members and someone directly impacted by their services. I took part in this month’s “Lunch & Learn Tour” and could not believe all the phenomenal ways they are boosting the health and wellness of our communities.

Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health & Well Being has a Youth Intervention Program that offers an early intervention Peer Support Program onsite at schools in Anoka County. This program addresses a significant gap in how our community supports the healthy development of youth. As a prevention and early intervention program, their services reach youth before a crisis occurs (e.g. violence against oneself or another) or before the youth's behaviors lead to interactions with the juvenile justice system. This program works with youth who are beginning to engage in behaviors that are of concern to parents and teachers. These behaviors range from depression to truancy to shoplifting and vandalism to self-cutting to experimenting with alcohol and other substances. At the high school level, many of the students are self-referred: They know they are struggling and they want a better and healthier life. Most of the youth participating in the School-based Peer Support Program are from families living in or near poverty. Consequently, families are not charged for services provided. Therefore, the Lee Carlson Center must rely on community support to be able to reach and work with at least 300 students each school year.

Regardless of the specific behavior, most often what these youth need is a supportive environment with someone guiding them in exploring feelings and in developing positive decision making skills. This program provides that needed support. Conducting the program onsite at the school allows the services to be fully integrated into the student's day-to-day lives. They know their School-based Peer Support Program changes the lives of youth because at the end of each school year, the majority of participating youth report improvements in their behaviors. This includes improved relationships with peers, parents and authority figures, as well as being better able to stay on task (e.g. completing school work) and having greater self-esteem. Parents and teachers concur with the reports from youth. The program most recently received an 'outstanding' rating from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Youth Intervention Program.

Aside, from the School-based Peer Support Program, the Lee Carlson Center offers an array of services including, but not limited to: marriage and family counseling, play therapy for children, parenting classes and bariatric psychological assessments. There are three convenient locations for services – Fridley, Blaine and Spring Lake Park. Although each site does slightly different work, they all strive to reach lower income clients and pride themselves on being the only organization in the northern suburbs that provides mental health services for all age groups. For more information, I would highly encourage you to attend a Lunch & Learn Tour, or if you’ve got time on April 9th, head to Anoka High School to take part in Anoka County’s Got Talent, a fundraising event you wouldn’t want to miss! Click here to become a fan of their facebook page, and show your support for youth and families struggling with emotional and behavioral issues.

2011 Update on the Legislature by Executive Director, Scott Beaty

Wow! What two years will do in the ever-changing political world! Not only has the

Federal political landscape changed but so has Minnesota’s!

Minnesota is facing a $6.2 billion deficit, and after many years of budget deficits there is no low hanging fruit. This means cuts to government supported programs will be deep and sharp even if the Governor and Legislature can come to some agreement on raising revenues. In order to keep the Youth Intervention Program and other youth programming from being severely reduced or eliminated we all have our work cut out for us. It is critical that we educate legislators about the proven benefits of early intervention programs.

The first thing I want all of you to know is that this is probably going to be the toughest legislative session we will have since former Governor Ventura tried to eliminate the Youth Intervention Program. The YIPA membership fought hard and strong that session and we were able to save the program but with a reduction in funding. Since that time we have been able to increase the funding only to have it reduced the next biennium because of deficits within the State budget. I can’t stress enough how important it is going to be for the YIPA membership to contact their legislators (email works but a personal phone call or face to face meeting is better) and ask them to support the Youth Intervention Program by ensuring that the current base funding of $1.6 million per year be maintained. Remember, the Youth Intervention Program Social Return on Investment (SROI) is our best ally and every legislator you meet with should get a copy of this report with you highlighting the cost savings the research has found. We will soon be getting the YIP outcome data from the Office of Justice Program within Public Safety and this too can be a tool you can and should use to show legislators that not only does the YIP save money but it has measurable results. If you are unsure who are your State legislators, click here.

Another important action I hope everyone reading this takes is to plan to attend the Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol on Thursday, March 3. This is the time for you and your constituents (your youth) to be in St. Paul talking with your legislators about the importance of the youth intervention program in your community. The Youth Rally Day is sponsored by the Youth Policy Alliance. Click here for an application to participate in this event. If you have taken part in the rally in the past, you will notice a couple changes that have been made for the 2011 rally. The first major change is that participants will not be meeting at the Kelly Inn for pre-rally training; instead, rally preparations will be communicated to adult leaders through live webinar and it is the responsibility of those leaders to disseminate this information to their youth. Applicant deadline to participate in the rally is January 21. Even if you cannot bring a group of youth to the event, I hope you will attend the noon rally and plan to meet with your legislators.

Remember, the world is run by those who show up!

Rally for Youth Reminder: 3-3-2011

Happy New Year, everyone! From all of us at MN YIPA, we hope 2010 ended on a positive note, and that you’re as enthused as we are to begin fresh in 2011! We’re taking part in planning some really exciting events this year, including but not limited to the 2011 Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol! By now, all YIPA members and other youth-serving organizations across the state of Minnesota should have received the application materials needed to participate in this event. If you haven’t, feel free to check out the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota’s website to download the materials. And again, if you have any questions now or at any time before the event on March 3, 2011, do not hesitate to be in touch with a representative at any of the Youth Policy Alliance (YPA) organizations.

If you have taken part in the rally in the past, you will notice a couple changes that have been made for the 2011 rally. The first major change is that participants will not be meeting at the Kelly Inn for pre-rally training; instead, rally preparations will be communicated to adult leaders through live webinar and it is the responsibility of those leaders to disseminate this information to their youth. The second major change is that applicants are given three options for ways to arrange meetings with legislators:
1. Arrange the meeting on your own. This option is for those who have personal relationships established with their legislators and would prefer working directly with them as opposed to using an intermediary.

2. Arranging your own meeting with legislators with assistance from the rally committee. This option is for those who are confident they will be able to organize a meeting with a little guidance from experts.

3. Have the meeting arranged for you. This option is for constituents who may not be familiar with their legislators and would feel more confident and conformable having an intermediary contact their legislator and plan their meeting.

Some important information to remember:

January 21, 2011 – All applications are due

Mailed or emailed applications can be sent to:

Lindsey Carlson * Attn: Rally for Youth

7350 Chesham Lane

Woodbury, MN 55125

Lindsey.carlson08@gmail.com

Faxed applications can be sent to:

Carolyn Herman * HIRED

Attn: Rally for Youth

651-999-5641

January 28, 2011 – Rally applicants will be notified of acceptance

February 9, 2011 – Live webinar to prepare adult leaders will be streamed from 2pm-1pm.

Additionally, there will be an informational video available during the month of February, which will highlight youth who have personal experience utilizing services in the six focus areas of the rally: Homelessness Prevention, Mentoring, Out-of-School Time, Youth Intervention, Workforce Development and Juvenile Justice. We are still looking for youth with experience in these core areas, who are able and willing to share their story both in video form, and at the actual event at the Capitol on March 3, 2011. If you are connected with youth who feel confident sharing their experiences with others, feel free to email me (Rachel) at promisefellow@mnyipa.org or leave a comment on this blog.

What is MLK Day of Service?

January 17 marks the 25th anniversary of a holiday that recognizes a person who helped significantly change our country for the better – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On this day, organizations across the nation will lead or participate in MLK Day of Service projects. This milestone is a perfect opportunity for all Americans to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. Whether you spend the day reading to children at a community library, or helping organize food at a local food shelf, take some time to serve your community. Click here to find a project in your area. Or if you’re interested in planning a project for this exciting day of service, click here. If your agency is hosting a service project and could use some additional help, feel free to comment on this post and tell us more about how you’re spending MLK Service Day!

Here are some organizations in Minnesota who have service projects planned and are seeking volunteers:

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Minneapolis Community and Technical College

University of Minnesota – Morris

The Digital Divide Initiative

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?” We’d love to hear what you’re doing for others.

December Member of the Month: Northwest Youth and Family Services

Northwest Youth and Family Services (NYFS) is happy to announce a new program called The STEP Program. STEP stands for Service + Tutoring Equals Pride, and is a free program designed for youth who are not reaching their full academic potential and/or may be struggling socially. NYFS has partnered with Americorps, Minnesota Alliance with Youth and the Mounds View School District to offer the youth in our community a safe and caring environment, enabling them to spend their time connecting with caring mentors. Through the resources that the program offers, youth are challenged to stretch themselves academically, pursue leadership and service opportunities and to learn more about planning for college and post-secondary educational opportunities.

STEP operates at three different sites: NYFS, Highview Middle School and Edgewood Middle School. All three programs are coordinated by Americorps Promise Fellows. At NYFS, STEP is offered three evenings a week. Two of the three evenings are focused on academic tutoring sessions and educational activities. The goals of this program are that each student improve their grades by one full letter grade, have better study skills, learn time management, gain leadership skills, learn about future career paths/educational opportunities and understand the importance of helping others. Student in this program even have the added bonus of receiving transportation to and from the program should they need it!

The youth in their program have received the opportunity to participate in interest-based field trips such as a visit to the Shoreview Community Center's indoor water park, which was a highlight of the program. They are also planning field trips to go bowling, play at Eagles Nest Indoor Playground, visit Mall of America's Nickelodeon theme park and so much more! Additionally, they are providing their youth the opportunity to serve a Christmas meal to senior citizens and their families at Presbyterian Homes of Arden Hills on December 8th and 9th. Through this event, they anticipate the youth will learn leadership skills and get a glimpse of future career paths they may want to embark on in the future. Within the next month, they will also be providing tours of local colleges (Century College and Bethel University) so their youth can begin to plan for the future.

Of course, they want their youth to be well rounded, and be equipped to better serve their community so they have designed some service-learning opportunities to assist them in this area. They are in the process of having their youth participate in a Hunger, Homelessness and Poverty unit, where students were given the opportunity to tour Simpson Housing Services in Minneapolis. They are planning more shelter tours and eventually would like to have a fundraiser to raise money so they can donate food, as well as serve a meal at a local shelter. While participating in such a unit can be emotional, the AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, Holly “believes it is very important to have [their] youth realize the tragedies that exist in [their] community.” In Minnesota alone, each shelter turns away approximately 1,000 individuals each night. Holly’s hope is for the youth in her program to realize they can make a difference. During her childhood, there were economic struggles that often made it difficult for her mother to put food on the table. Despite this, she persevered, and to this day her mother is her role model. When Holly was 13 years old her mother had her volunteer at their church for the entire month of December, and it was during that time that she begin to realize that she could make a difference. At their church, they offered a shelter in the basement for those in need; she remembers the first night, when she began to understand the power of helping others. It was this experience as a child that has pushed her to want to help others such as the youth in STEP to realize that they, too, can make a difference.

Although Holly has only been in the position of serving as a Promise Fellow since August, she says that “it has been one of the greatest challenges and most rewarding experiences [she has] ever had.” She feels fortunate to have the support of the NYFS family and Promise Fellows on her School-Community Partnership team. Although she was not expecting to see much success very early on in the program, recently one of the STEP youth asked her what she wanted to do when I “grew up.” She told him she wanted to be a counselor and help others. His exact words were “you are already a counselor. You continue to help me, even though I am a challenge. You haven't gave up on me yet.” AmeriCorps Promise Fellows do make a difference in the world.

March 3rd, 2011: Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol

On Wednesday of this week, the Youth Policy Alliance (YPA) began distributing some important materials to help prepare you and your youth for the 4th Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol! Many of you may have already received your application and Frequently Asked Question sheet via email or snail mail, but if you haven’t yet don’t fret! Applications and other information will be sent to you in the days, weeks and months to come. YIPA members can expect to receive their application materials on December 15th, 2010.

The YPA is a coalition of youth serving organizations, associations and alliances with a statewide presence working to ensure sound youth policy in Minnesota. The YPA has come together to create a framework of support that ensures all children and youth move into adulthood ready for life.

On behalf of the YPA, MN Youth Intervention Programs Association (MN YIPA) welcomes you, your staff, and your youth to join us on March 3rd, 2011 as we seek to educate our policy leaders about the need for a comprehensive youth system of services. If your organization houses a program that provides services for youth in any of the following areas, please consider working with the YPA to arrange meetings with your legislators:

Homelessness Prevention

Mentoring

Out-of-School Time

Youth Intervention

Workforce Development

Juvenile Justice

This day-long event will be organized in a way that will help youth familiarize themselves with the Capitol, the legislature, and communicating openly and honestly with legislators about issues involving them. Youth services do not exist or work in an exclusive, solitary environment to meet the needs of young people. We must engage communities and enact policies, which promote a comprehensive approach to youth policy ensuring that all young adults are ready for life.

If your organization wishes to participate in the full day's activities and has not received an application, please comment on this blog or contact me (Rachel) via email at promisefellow@mnyipa.org! We are asking that all applications be returned by January 21st, 2011. If you have any additional questions or need more information about the rally itself, please contact Lindsey Carlson at lindsey.carlson08@gmail.com.

Click here to RSVP to our facebook event!

November Member of the Month: Benefits of Hosting a Promise Fellow

Minnesota is in the middle of a “perfect storm." At the same time baby boomers are leaving the workforce, we also see major changes in youth demographics. Youth of color and low -income youth make up a growing percentage of total school-age children, yet many of these youth are most at-risk of dropping out. If we are to adequately prepare a highly trained workforce and remain economically solvent as a state, we need to turn the tide. Dropping out of school is a process, not a one-day event. Using the research on early warning signs, we can identify the youth most at risk and use evidence-based intervention strategies to prevent youth from dropping out.

We know that when communities come together, they can meet the challenges of the dropout crisis head on – but it often requires the added capacity of staff to support their efforts. And that is precisely why hosting an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow through the Minnesota Alliance with Youth can benefit both your organization and your community.

AmeriCorps Promise Fellows serve for one year with schools and organizations across Minnesota to mobilize volunteers, create new after-school programs, build mentoring and tutoring initiatives, and engage youth in service-learning. AmeriCorps members allow schools and communities to pilot strategies and programs on a small and cost-efficient scale, and then seek long-term local funding. Promise Fellows receive significant training and experience that helps grow and strengthen the youth development field in Minnesota. This year, the Minnesota Alliance with Youth placed 80+ Promise Fellows in schools and organizations across the state of Minnesota, and next year they are looking to increase this number to reach even more youth!

There are currently six Promise Fellows serving at three different MN YIPA member sites, and all six are doing great things for our communities. Shane Thompson from the Seneca and Odawa Nations is the Education Coordinator Promise Fellow with the Ginew/Golden Eagle program based out of the Minneapolis American Indian Center. He works closely with Rachel Greenwalt who is the Volunteer Coordinator Promise Fellow also serving with the Ginew/Golden Eagle program. They serve American Indian youth ages 5-18 and offer groups for various age groups four nights a week, providing a meal and transportation to and from groups. According to Rachel, “it has been such a great opportunity to get to know all the kids in our program. We currently have just over 80 kids enrolled in the program and we are continuing to recruit more families to be involved at Golden Eagles.”

Other YIPA sites that are currently hosting one or more Promise Fellows:

The Link

Northwestern Youth and Family Services

If you know anyone who is interesting in becoming an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, refer them to the Minnesota Alliance with Youth website.

To achieve goals and support students, the Minnesota Alliance With Youth invites schools, community organizations, government agencies, and other nonprofits to apply to host one or more AmeriCorps Promise Fellows to support their School Community Partnerships.

If you are interested in hosting a Promise Fellow for 2011-2012, please go to the Minnesota Alliance with Youth website for additional information about writing a letter of intent. And keep in mind that the deadline for Letters of Intent is right around the corner: December 15th, 2010.

Survival Skills for the Youth Service Worker, by Steve Zvonar

On December 3rd, 2010 YIPA has the honor of hosting Chiropractor and Wellcoach, Dr. Steve Zvonar, as he discusses early signs of stress within yourself, the staff you work with, the volunteers you coordinate and youth clients you serve. If you're interested in taking part in this seminar, look to our website for additional information. Below you'll find a guest blog by Dr. Zvonar!

After 25 years of practice in a natural health care field that involves lifestyle change, discipline and perseverance, the question that continues to throw itself at me is, “What does it take to get a person to make tough changes in their life?”

After all, we do live in a country of immediate gratifications, short cuts and “if it’s too hard to do, forget it”. I think that is one of the reasons we have a drug crisis in our country. It’s flat out easier to take a drug than to exercise, eat right, or to take time to recover with a walk in the woods.

So, why do some people change and others don’t? What fuels people to rise up and discipline themselves to change their diets, quit drugs or alcohol or proactively deal with the chronic stress in their lives? Ask a person who has done it, they will tell you that they found a reason and purpose beyond themselves that inspired them to persevere. Just think of the woman who can’t seem to quit smoking, then “magically” quits after she becomes pregnant. Yes, she has some purpose or now someone who is bigger than her own self interest that becomes the fuel for positive but difficult change.

During our seminar, Survival Skills for the Youth Service Worker”, we will be talking about the popular topic of recognizing and dealing with stress. What will be unique about this seminar is that we will be teaching how to deal with stress in our own lives as well as others around us from a coaching perspective. We will particularly be focusing on the foundations for healthy change, specifically as it pertains to our stressful lives. C.S. Lewis calls these three foundations “The Laws of Human Nature”. They are: healthy relationships, balancing ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and finding purpose and passion in life. The techniques we will discuss will be wonderful tools in dealing with the stress of coworkers, youth and of course, most importantly, ourselves.

Yes, after over 25 years of practice, hundreds and hundreds of training and seminars, when people come up to me and ask “how” do I get rid of this or that or feel better (or get more sleep, or be less depressed, etc. etc.), my first question to them is “why” do you want to feel better? Contemplating the “why” is the first, deepest and most potent step to healthy and usually difficult behavioral change. However, once the “why” is clarified and solidified, the “how” becomes much, much easier.

The Time is NOW, by Executive Director Scott Beaty

Wow! What two years will do in the ever changing political world! Not only has the Federal political landscape changed but so has Minnesota’s!

We know that the Republicans now have the majority in both the MN House and Senate for the first time in decades and it looks likely that Democrat Mark Dayton will end up as our next Governor. So what does this mean? Some say chaos, some say gridlock, some say smaller government, and some are even predicting good things will happen. Only time will tell!

What is still clear is that there is a huge budget deficit to fix…probably in the $5 to $6 billion range. We also know that after many years of budget deficits there is no low hanging fruit which means cuts to government supported programs will be deep and sharp even if the Governor and Legislature can come to some agreement on raising revenues.

One thing I do know is that in order to keep the Youth Intervention Program and other youth programming from being severely reduced or eliminated we all have our work cut out for us. What do we need to do, you may ask? For starters I say educate, educate, educate! There are a lot of new legislators out there and it needs to be our job and focus to teach them about the important early intervention work that you are doing for youth and their families in your community. Every one of your legislators need to know you personally and what you and/or your organization does to keep our youth from entering or progressing further into the costly juvenile justice system. Make sure you show them the results and outcomes of your early intervention or Youth Intervention program(s) and personally give them a copy of the Youth Intervention Program SROI (available to download free for members in the Members Only section of the YIPA Web site www.mnyipa.org ).

With the new Republican regime I believe that there will be an attempt to reform and shrink government. This is where all of us can and must help them. We have the research and the outcomes on our side. Using the SROI and other recently completed research we can now show that not only can we save the State money immediately but also in the long term. We can also show them (using the outcome data that the Office of Justice Programs has been gathering from the Youth Intervention Program grantees for the past year) that these programs are effective in changing youths lives for the better. These programs work and we need make sure every legislator (new and old) receives and understands this message.

Between now and the end of the year is the perfect time to meet with your legislators. Call them up and ask for a meeting. Invite them to your organization so they can see firsthand what you are doing for our youth. Let them know your funding issues and the importance of having stable State youth intervention funding that also leverages community funding. Let them know that the funding is very well administered by the Office of Justice programs within the MN Dept. of Public Safety. Get to know these people. Believe me when I say they are legislators because they care and want to help. The trick is to educate them so they want to help you and the youth in the district they represent and serve.

There is no time to lose. As I always say…good things happen to those who show up! Let’s all show up in mass and fight for funding for the Youth Intervention Program and other early intervention youth services.

Social Media Tools for Non-profits

Does your organization use social media tools to market events or reach a wider audience? Does your agency have a Facebook profile, or a Twitter account? If you answered yes to one or both of those questions, you’re not alone! According to Tyler Olson from SMCPros, there are at least 500 million active members on facebook, and roughly 250 million people log into facebook daily. Simply put, your target market is on Facebook, but the question is, “how do you reach them?” Whether you’re seeking to increase awareness, donations, heighten engagement, expand membership, reach larger audiences or rouse excitement for your cause, social media tools are becoming an essential part of meeting your agency’s goals. The use of social media tools in the non-profit field is completely redefining the way we do business.

Watch the short video below that illustrates the forces shaping social media.

This video and others like it can be found on commoncraft.com.

What are your thoughts on the video you just watched? Do you know how to market your message to the appropriate audience? Do you have enough time to commit to social marketing on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn? When beginning, or trying to recreate your brand on any one of the social media tools mentioned consider the following:

• Pick a social media project that will not take too much time

• Record both successes and challenges

• Ask or listen to the people you connect with about what worked and what did not

• Watch other nonprofits and copy and/or remix their ideas for your next project

• Engage followers by sharing highlights of your work, as well as posing probing questions

For information on how nonprofit organizations can use social media tools to power social networks for change, take a look at Beth Kanter’s blog, or you can read an insightful piece by Jennifer Mattern. There are so many resources at our fingertips, that all we have to do is disregard our lack of technological knowhow, and plunge into this exciting and rewarding new world!

Tis the Season to Give: Creative Fundraising Ideas

During this time of economic recession and increased financial worry, at-risk youth and those who work to empower them need your support more than ever. Thankfully, seeking assistance for your programs does not necessarily mean asking for monetary donations. This day and age, there are a variety of innovative and helpful ways to encourage community members to support meaningful and positive programs at your organization, while simultaneously promoting your message and cause. The use of the internet and social media tools have opened the door for a new wave of giving. Fundraising special events supplement local, state and federal grants, individual giving campaigns, and business contributions. In addition to raising money, they help raise awareness about your organization, which can be invaluable when it comes time to apply for funding or ask for donations. Here are some creative and innovative fundraising events that have been done by fellow YIPA members:

For 12 years now, YIPA member Bolder Options has been hosting a Bolder Dash where participants can choose to run a 5k or 10k. This year’s race was on September 18th, 2010, and was a huge success!

This year, Elpis Enterprises is participating in the Twice the Gift Store in the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis. Take a few moments to stop by and see some of the products that youth in their program have made, and make sure to ask how your non-profit can get involved!

Last month, YIPA member, DARTS launched an online auction through Biddingforgood.com, which is something any non-profit can do! They were able to get members of the community to donate items for auction and for the last several weeks have been inviting people from all over the state to bid online. One of the great things about this type of fundraising endeavor is that you can reach a much wider audience than most local events.

Another YIPA member, YouthLink was recently featured on Pepsi Refresh’s website, where they highlighted a need for enhanced space at their nonprofit organization, and sought votes and essentially funding. Each month, Pepsi gives away $1,300,000 to fund great ideas, and it doesn’t cost voters a cent!

The nation's largest Giving Day is coming up on November 16th in Minnesota! Join the wave of generosity by taking part in Give to the Max Day. Hundreds of nonprofits will offer the opportunity to double your dollars over the course of 24 hours on November 16th. Every donation you make gives your favorite organization the chance to win even more money. Make sure to donate to your favorite organizations, and for YIPA members running early intervention programs, make sure to create a personalized account!

And last but not least, I'd like to recognize Patty Halvorson from the Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health and Well-Being. She was recently presented The Innovative Funding Leadership award which is for given to individuals, foundations, corporations, civic groups or other entities that have set an example for innovative funding to youth intervention programs in the state of Minnesota. To quote Paul Meunier, "rather than simply absorb the economic hits, Patty has been busy crafting new and fun ways to raise much need revenue." One such event is their annual Roofraiser. It began three years ago with one local mayor sleeping on the roof of a high school for an entire weekend; while up there, he made phone calls to raise money. The next year it expanded to 7 mayors from the local area and the fundraising totals increased. The most recent year there were 8 individual "roofraisers," including a director of chamber of commerce, a county commissioner, a candidate for sheriff and the mayors.

Another unique idea for fundraising was Dancing with the Stars. Patty Halvorson researched the idea and recruited local leaders to dance at a fundraiser. These local leaders were taught new dance steps with the help of a local dance studio, which donated their time and skills. The event was successful at both raising awareness and much need financial resources.

If you know of any creative or innovative ways non-profit agencies in Minnesota can fund early intervention programs, please leave a comment and spread the word! ‘Tis the season!

October Member of the Month: Lao Family Community of MN, Inc.

Walking up to Lao Family Community of MN, Inc. in St. Paul, I (Rachel) could feel the energy all around me. The parking lot was full of cars, and as I entered, I was greeted with smiles by a variety of different people all involved in one activity or another. I walked upstairs towards the Youth and Family program area, and past several classrooms where adult students were actively engaged in studying the English language.

Paul Kong, who has been with this agency for six years and thoroughly enjoys serving the Hmong community, warmly welcomed me and gave me a wonderful tour of the building. As their Youth Outreach Worker, he wears many hats, but his main role is running their afterschool enrichment program.

This program has seen a huge shift in the last year, as they moved from being a drop in center, to a center focused around enrichment and academic success. Instead of allowing students to come and go as they please, now all students have to be an official part of the program and are able to earn points for their attendance; the points they earn can be redeemed for snacks and prizes at the Points Cafe.

Although they have seen a decrease in the number of students being served this year due to a stricter and more structured program, they still serve between 70 and 100 students a year, and are hoping their point system will not only encourage good attendance, but will also help Lao Family Community secure additional funding. I wish them luck in this area since all services offered by their organization are FREE!

A Typical Week at Lao Family Community

Monday

• Girls Discussion Group called Making Healthy Choices. This group focuses on relevant issues in the lives of teens and develops strategies on how to avoid and if possible prevent them.

Tuesday

• Songwriting & Music Recording classes

• Hip Hop Dance Group

• Korean Club

Wednesday

• Yugioh and Magic Card Club,

• Guys Discussion Group called Making Healthy Choices

• Korean Club

Thursday

• Open Lab

• Hip Hop Dance Group

Friday

• Accountability and Fitness Group

In addition to the services they offer onsite, Paul and another staff member Chee Lee teach a curriculum called Kev Xaiv, which in Hmong means Making Choices. This class is held weekly and biweekly in junior high schools in Saint Paul and Minneapolis. One school they are closely connected with is New Millennium Academy that serves a large population of Hmong students. In the future, they hope to open a satellite site as a way to connect with more of the 80,000+ Hmong people living in Minnesota.

Lao Family Community is one of the newest YIPA members, joining our community less than a year ago after several years of attending YIPA professional development trainings. As a member of the YIPA team, its staff is looking to collaborate more with organizations in Saint Paul to organize projects and events in their neighborhood. I am beyond impressed with the work being done at their agency, and would encourage everyone who reads this to attend Minnesota's Hmong New Year on Thanksgiving weekend for a taste of Hmong culture, traditions and food!

HEALING INVISIBLE WOUNDS: Why Investing in Trauma-Informed Care for Children Makes Sense

As youth service providers, we’re always on the lookout for best practices, programs and initiatives that will improve how we serve our communities. As advocates for early intervention, we see the value of investing time and money in a social issue now because we know that in the long run it will save both money and lives. For a moment, I challenge you to think of a few high-risk youth you’ve served. If you’ve got some in mind, I want you to now think of their environments as young children. Did they experience physical or sexual abuse, war, community violence, loss of a caregiver, or a life threatening illness? All of the examples constitute traumatic events that can affect emotional control, brain development, memory and aggression.

Did you know that over 93,000 American children are locked up in juvenile correctional facilities, and of those children, between 75 and 93 percent are estimated to have experienced some degree of trauma?

Those statistics are astounding, which is why the Justice Policy Institute recently released a study that illustrates the relationship between childhood trauma and criminal activity, as well as cost-benefit analysis for programs that target the most as-risk populations. According to the article, “the direct and indirect costs associated with child maltreatment make it among the most costly public health problems in the United States. Beyond the social benefit, by preventing or addressing child maltreatment early, both direct (medical and psychiatric care, government services, criminal justice, child protection services) and indirect (lost earnings and productivity) costs could be lowered substantially by investing in programs that work.”

Take some time to read the article in full. We challenge you and your organization to seek resources and information to allow you to better serve children who have experienced trauma so they don’t become another statistic.

Troubling Trends for Youth and Communities By Jay Jaffee, MN Department of Health

Jay Jaffee will present a two-part training detailing modern challenges that youth face entitled “Underage Alcohol is Not a Rite of Passage” and “Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Use and Youth” on November 9, 2010 from 9:00-12:00 p.m. in Mankato, MN. Register online at www.mnyipa.org or call (888) 945-9472 for more info.

Alcohol and other drug abuse remain a serious problem in America today, both for their health effects and for the concerning trend toward increased binge drinking and prescription drug abuse.

Youth engaged in alcohol and other drug abuse create numerous problems for themselves, their families, their schools, their communities and the groups and organizations in which they participate. Alcohol and other drug abuse cause physical and mental health problems, as well as social, academic, legal and financial problems. In addition to the health problems we have known about for some time—including cancers, heart disease, liver disease, respiratory problems, brain damage and adolescent development—we now have research showing that binge drinking can impair cognitive function (when sober) and can weaken the immune system making it possible to be susceptible to diseases.

Some recent trends have increased the potential for damage. One trend is the change in norms about binge drinking for young people. Drinking games, paraphernalia and perceptions about youth drinking allow and encourage high-risk drinkers to consume larger amounts alcohol more quickly than previous generations. The use of energy drinks, in particular mixing them with alcohol, has increased binge drinking, drinking and driving and sexual assaults. One result of this trend is a norms change making passing out, blacking out and vomiting acceptable behaviors. The long-term impact of this norms change remains to be seen. Will we have more alcohol-related injuries and deaths among our youth? Will we have more alcohol dependent adults as these young people become older?

The other trend is the increase in the abuse of both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Significant increases in the numbers of drugs being prescribed and the marketing of both prescription and over-the-counter medications have led to increases in both the use and abuse of theses drugs and also to increases in serious consequences experienced by users. Prescription drugs are now the leading cause of unintentional poisoning deaths, drug-related emergency room visits and childhood poisonings.

Not enough parents, youth workers, educators, health care providers, elected officials and other influential adults are aware of these trends and their potential for serious harm. We need to address this issue in a real, sustainable way so that together we can permanently reduce the damage to individuals and communities.

Fall Professional Development Opportunities from YIPA

It’s the time of year again when professional development opportunities are lurking around every corner. We are very excited to be offering some of our most impactful, most timely and most relevant training opportunities to date. We are pleased to be able to bring internationally known speakers directly to you, and look forward to the insight and experience they bring to the world of Minnesota youth work. Mark your calendars now - we hope to see you this fall in St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth or Mankato!

Boys Adrift & Girls on the Edge

Leonard Sax, Ph.D.

October 26, 2010 · 8:30-4:00 p.m.

St. Paul, MN

Why Gender Matters: The Importance of Gender in Early Interventions with At-Risk Youth

Leonard Sax, Ph.D.

October 27, 2010 · 8:30-4:00 p.m.

Rochester, MN

For a sneak peek of Dr Leonard Sax in action, take a look at some of his recent appearances on CNN and the TODAY show! Dr. Sax discusses Boys Adrift with Matt Lauer and Why Gender Matters with Al Roker! Dr. Sax was also invited to discuss Girls on the Edge with Kiran Chetry on CNN's American morning.

Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind

Frank Kros, Upside Down Organization

November 2, 2010 · 8:30-4:00 p.m.

Duluth, MN

Workshop attendees and third parties have been vocal about their positive experiences with The Upside Down Organization (UDO) and its programs.

Underage Alcohol Use is Not a Rite of Passage and Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Use and Youth: A two-part training detailing modern challenges youth face

Jay Jaffee, Minnesota Department of Health

November 9, 2010 – 9:00-12:00 p.m.

Mankato, MN

Survival Strategies for the Youth Service Provider: Strategies for detecting and coping with stress in staff, volunteers and the youth you serve

Steve Zvonar, DC, CWC, Northwoods Natural Healing Center

December 3, 2010 - 1:00-3:30 p.m.

St. Paul, MN